| Issue |
EAS Publications Series
Volume 75-76, 2015
Conditions and Impact of Star Formation
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 175 - 176 | |
| Section | Star Formation: Physical and Chemical Conditions, Feedback | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/1575031 | |
| Published online | 20 May 2016 | |
R. Simon, R. Schaaf and J. Stutzki (eds)
EAS Publications Series, 75–76 (2015) 175-176
What probability distribution functions tell us about the processes of star formation
1 I. Physik. Institut, Cologne, Germany
2 LAB/OASU Bordeaux, France
3 Zentrum für Astronomie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany
4 MPIfR Bonn, Germany
5 MPA, Garching, Germany
6 Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Canberra, Australia
7 Maison de la Simulation, CEA Saclay, France
8 School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff, UK
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Probability distribution functions of column density (N-PDFs) are used to evaluate the relative importance of gravity, turbulence, magnetic fields, geometry, and radiative feedback governing the cloud's density structure and star-formation activity. These proce- sses influence the N-PDF and thus determine their shape, ranging from a purely lognormal distribution to one with power-law tail(s).
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2016